After a 14-year journey, Virat Kohli retires from Test cricket, leaving behind a legacy of 9230 runs and 40 wins as India’s most successful Test captain.
By New Delhi Post
New Delhi — Virat Kohli, India’s cricketing icon, announced his retirement from Test cricket on May 12, 2025, via Instagram, ending a stellar 14-year career. The 36-year-old, who informed the BCCI of his decision on Saturday, steps away as India’s fourth-highest Test run-scorer with 9230 runs, trailing legends like Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid.
A Journey of Grit and Glory
Kohli’s Test career began in 2011, and he quickly became a cornerstone of Indian cricket. Leading India to 40 wins in 68 Tests, he holds the record as the country’s most successful Test captain. His crowning achievement came in 2018-19, when India clinched the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, a historic 2-1 victory. Kohli’s 692 runs in Australia in 2014, including twin centuries in Adelaide, marked the start of his dominance against the Aussies, where he amassed 3320 runs and nine centuries over his career.
Redemption and Records
Between 2015 and 2019, Kohli was unstoppable, peaking in 2016 with 1215 runs at an average of 75.93, including a career-best 235 against England. In 2018, he redeemed a disastrous 2014 England tour by scoring 593 runs at 59.30, silencing critics like James Anderson. Despite India’s 1-3 loss, Kohli’s resilience shone, earning him the ICC Test Player of the Year award. His leadership, alongside coach Ravi Shastri, built a formidable pace attack, making India a touring powerhouse.
A Challenging Farewell
Kohli’s later years saw a slump, with his average dropping from 55.10 in 2019 to 46.8 by retirement. A three-year century drought from 2019 to 2022 tested his resolve, but he bounced back with a gritty 76 against South Africa in 2023. His final Test series against Australia yielded 190 runs, a quiet end to a roaring career. Now, Kohli shifts focus to ODIs, eyeing the 2027 World Cup in South Africa.
Kohli’s Test legacy inspires millions, blending leadership with unparalleled passion. As he steps into a new chapter, cricket fans bid an emotional farewell to ‘269’ in whites.
